MLB Rumors: Will the Mets Keep David Wright in New York?

By Joseph Wolkin

Kevin Liles-US PRESSWIRE

When the name David Wright is mentioned, people usually think of theNew York Mets. Wright has been a fan favorite since he was called up to the team from then Triple A affiliate the Norfolk Tide in 2004.

It’s likely that when his career is completed, Wright will be given a ticket into Cooperstown as one of the few Hall of Fame players that the Metropolitans have ever had. Through his first nine years with the organization, Wright has put up numbers that are quite similar to Mets legends, Ed Kranepool, Darryl Strawberry, Mike Piazza and more.

In the 2012 season, Wright, who will turn 30 next month, broke the Mets’ all-time hits record–held by Kranepool–and is just a season and a half away, if that, from breaking the team’s home run record held by Strawberry. The record is 252 home runs. Wright has 204.

But he won’t be able to break any more records if he isn’t in a Mets uniform–it’s that simple.

The Mets recently picked up Wright’s 2013 option for $16-million. According to ESPN Insiders information, a deal to extend Wright’s career in New York isn’t close as the team has made it clear they want the six-time All-Star to remain in Queens for the long haul.

To retain Wright, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes it will take a minimum seven year, $127-million deal. That deal would make Wright 37 once the contract expires, but if they create a contract such one similar to that plan, they’ll probably add in a team option for one or two years.

Is it worth it to sign Wright for that long, though? Wright hasn’t been consistent since the Mets started playing in Citi Field and his numbers from 2010 and 2011 show just that.

If the team opts to go in the direction of not signing Wright, they may end up trading him. Jim Bowden has stated that the team most likely to acquire Wright would be the Boston Red Sox, who could use a leader such as Wright in the clubhouse.